יָדַע

𐤉𐤃𐤏

yâdaʻ

H3045 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ידע to know, perceive, recognize, experience

Definition

To know, perceive, or recognize through observation, experience, or relationship. The verb denotes a spectrum from simple perceptual knowledge (to see, notice, or learn) to more abstract understanding (intellectual knowledge, discernment, wisdom) and even intimate acquaintance (personal relationship, sexual intimacy). Used of both concrete, observable knowledge (e.g., knowing a fact or event) and relational, experiential knowledge (knowing a person or deity). Extended uses include to be skilled, to appoint, and to declare or make known.

Semantic Range

to know (factually), to perceive, to recognize, to understand, to have sexual relations (euphemism), to be acquainted with, to care for, to make known, to declare, to reveal, to appoint, to designate, to be skilled, to instruct, to be taught

Root / Etymology

From the root ידע (y-d-ʻ), whose core meaning is to know, recognize, experience. The verb יָדַע is the basic stem (qal) conveying the act of knowing; derived stems (niphal, hifil, etc.) convey passive, causative, or reflexive senses (to be made known, to inform, to cause to know, etc.).

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָדַע functions as one of the most foundational verbs in Biblical Hebrew for expressing knowledge, perception, and relationship. In the patriarchal and monarchic periods, it covers a wide semantic range, including factual knowledge (Genesis 3:5), discerning moral or ritual situations (Leviticus 5:1), and intimate personal relationships, notably as a euphemism for sexual relations (Genesis 4:1). In wisdom literature, יָדַע is closely associated with wisdom, discernment, and the pursuit of understanding (Proverbs 9:10). Theological usage includes knowing YHWH, a term loaded with covenantal and relational significance (Jeremiah 31:34). Over time, the sense of 'knowing' as experiential, relational, and covenantal came to predominate in prophetic texts, contrasting mere factual awareness. English translations often separate the senses (e.g. 'know,' 'understand,' 'have sexual relations,' 'reveal') but do not capture the full depth of the term's immersive, experiential, and relational dimensions in Hebrew. Related verbs include בין (bin, 'to discern/understand'), שׂכל (śkl, 'to be wise/insightful'), and ראה (ra'ah, 'to see/perceive'), each with partial overlap but distinct focus. Later Jewish and Judean literature, including post-exilic and Second Temple texts, continue to employ ידע, often with heightened emphasis on spiritual or covenantal knowing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ידע (y-d-ʿ) — to know, perceive, recognize, experience

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1668 דָּא Know!
H1843 דֵּעַ Know!
H1844 דֵּעָה perceptive knowledge
H1845 דְּעוּאֵל God Knows
H1847 דַּעַת by his knowledge

Word Forms

188 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3045-139 יָדַ֔עְתִּי yadaeti HVqp1cs I know I knew 90
H3045-134 יָדַ֖ע yada HVqp3ms knows he knew 64
H3045-137 יָדַ֔עְתָּ yadaeta HVqp2ms know you have known 55
H3045-118 וְ/יָדְע֤וּ veyadeu HC/Vqq3cp and-they-will-know and they knew 53
H3045-178 יֹדֵ֣עַ yodea HVqrmsa knows the knowing one 43
H3045-142 יָדְעוּ֙ yadeu HVqp3cp they knew they knew 39
H3045-129 וִֽ/ידַעְתֶּ֗ם vidaetem HC/Vqq2mp and you will know and you will know 39
H3045-36 לָ/דַ֖עַת ladaat HR/Vqc to know to know 33
H3045-64 תֵּדַ֜ע teda HVqi2ms you know you will know 29
H3045-148 יֵדָ֑ע yeda HVqj3ms knows let him know 19

Occurrences in Scripture

953 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3045-178 Genesis 3:5 יֹדֵ֣עַ yodea HVqrmsa knows the knowing one
H3045-181 Genesis 3:5 יֹדְעֵ֖י yodeey HVqrmpc knowing knowers of
H3045-91 Genesis 3:7 וַ/יֵּ֣דְע֔וּ vayedeu HC/Vqw3mp and they knew and they knew
H3045-36 Genesis 3:22 לָ/דַ֖עַת ladaat HR/Vqc to know to know
H3045-134 Genesis 4:1 יָדַ֖ע yada HVqp3ms knew he knew
H3045-139 Genesis 4:9 יָדַ֔עְתִּי yadaeti HVqp1cs I know I knew
H3045-90 Genesis 4:17 וַ/יֵּ֤דַע vayeda HC/Vqw3ms and knew and he knew
H3045-90 Genesis 4:25 וַ/יֵּ֨דַע vayeda HC/Vqw3ms knew and he knew
H3045-90 Genesis 8:11 וַ/יֵּ֣דַע vayeda HC/Vqw3ms and he knew and he knew
H3045-90 Genesis 9:24 וַ/יֵּ֕דַע vayeda HC/Vqw3ms and knew and he knew